WOOD COUNTY, OHIO - 279 CHAPTER XXXII. HENRY TOWNSHIP. INTRODUCTION-POPULATION-SURVEYS-ORGANIZATION-OFFICIALS-PIONEERS-LAND BUYERS VOTERS OF 18909-FIRST THINGS-SCHOOLS-HUNTERS-VILLAGES-CHURCHES-OIL AND GAS. NORTH BALTIMORE-ITS COMMENCEMENT-NEW BALTIMORE-CENSUS REPORTS-INCORPORATION, OFFICIALS, ETC.-FIRST THINGS--SCHOOLS--FIRE DEPARTMENT-THE VILLAGE OF 1874 POST OFFICE-BANKS-OPERA HOUSE-ELECTRIC LIGHT CO.-GAS AND OIL CO.-GREAT INDUSTRIES-FIRES-BOARD OF TRADE-CHURCHES-SOCIETIES-CONCLUSION. THIS township presents, to the searcher after knowledge, a most unique subject. Prior to 1829, the soldiers under Hull made their way through its forest and marsh, and, before them, the Indians traversed the township on their trail, from Fort Defiance to the site of Tiffin. The early surveyors penetrated the territory, but the early traders and white hunters never ventured a visit, for it seemed to them that there was nothing there which the Caucasian might covet. In 1829, the indomitable pioneer appeared among the trees; ten years later there were about 125 inhabitants; in 1840 the population was 213, by 1850 increased to 321, by 1860 to 454, by 1870 to 685, and by 1880 to 1,688, including the 701 inhabitants of North Baltimore. Between June, 1880, and June, 1890, the number of inhabitants increased to 4,496, of whom there resided at North Baltimore, 2,857. The survey of the exterior lines was made in 1819, by Samuel and Alexander Holmes, while the sub-divisional lines were surveyed in 1821 by Worthington. Township Organization.-The township was established December 3, 1836, and the first election was ordered to be held on the third Monday of that month. On the day named, the voters assembled and selected the following named officials: Trustees, Henry Shaw, Jabez Bell and Tobias Shellenbarger; treasurer, George Carrel; clerk, Lewis F. Lambert; assessor, Amos Jones; justice, .Newell Bills; constable, Charles Grant. The election was held at the house of George Carrel, Section 35, and the men elected held their offices for several terms in succession. Of the officers given, all were Democrats except Jabez Bell and Charles Grant, who are represented to have been Whigs. Henry thus started as a Democratic township, and it continued to be such until 1884, when it became Republican. Prior to the establishment of the township, the inhabitants of Congressional township, No. 3, R. 10, assembled to formulate a petition and to agree upon a name. Some were in favor of calling it Bell township, in honor of Jabez Bell, a fat and jolly farmer who lived in the north of the territory, and others were favorable to calling it Shaw township, as a mark of esteem for Henry Shaw, the first settler of the territory who dwelt in the southern part. After much discussion, it was decided that Bell and Shaw should proceed to Perrysburg, the county seat, with the report of the organization, and that the township should be named after the one who arrived there first. The meeting was held on a Saturday, and it was understood that the report should reach Perrysburg on Monday. Sometime during Sunday night, Bell, with a view to "stealing a march " on Shaw, mounted a horse and rode leisurely off . 280 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. toward the county seat. On his arrival in Perrysburg the next morning, the first man he met was Shaw. A comparison of notes developed the fact that the latter had started afoot sometime during Sunday afternoon, and had walked all night. So the township was named 'Henry," after Shaw, some objection appearing to the use of his family name. TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. Owing to the incomplete condition of the township records, it is found impossible to give all the officials under date. Mr. Marron, who in February, 1895, made a thorough effort to compile a history of the township and villages, failed to find the old minute books of the trustees, but from interviews, he obtained information on which he based the following list of officers: Trustees: John Wallace, John Davis, W. W. Wiley, David Ackerman, Peter Freyman, George Schaffer, Wm. Hough, Frederick Bealer, Lilburn B. Rogers, Peter Freyman, John L. Rogers, J. C. Myers, O. H. Fellers, Harmon Longbrake, Hugh Campbell, Fergus Hughes, John J. Faylor, Wm. Gibson, James Thrush, Isaac Akerman, Henry Freyman, George Copus, Hiram Beatty, John Kile, Andrew Katzenberger, John Buchanan and Henry Carrel. Clerks: Lewis F. Lambert, Jackson Wallace, B. L. Peters (14 years), W. C. Peters, John Ruckman, John F. Clayton, Hugh Campbell, Dr. W. T. Thomas, W. Hughes, Frank Taylor, D. E. Peters, John DeLong and John Ebersole. Treasurers: George Carrel, Henry Rasely, Henry Carrel, B. L. Peters, Paul Hough, Frank Clark, Jacob Katzenmeyer, John Knoke and Michael Henning. [Geo. Carrel was treasurer from 1839 to 1845; Henry Carrel was treasurer in 1846; Henry Rasely in 1848; and S. McCrory from 1856 to 1859.] Assessors: Amos Jones, Henry Carrel, Silas Foster, B. L. Peters (I I years), Samuel Edgar, Fergus Hughes, B. A. Lawrence, D. E. Peters, J. B. Todd, Hugh Campbell, Frederick Bealer and Paul Hough. Since Mr. Marron made that list, documents in the county auditor's office have given up the following names of the trustees, with dates of service: Hiram Bigelow, Lewis F. Lambert and Tobias Shellenbarger, 1841; Samuel McCrory, Harlow Brooks and Tobias Shellenbarger, 1843, with Jabez Bell, clerk; Levi Edington, A. Azenbaugh and Jabez Bell, 1846, with L. F. Lambert, clerk; John Davis, Peter Freyman and A. Azenbaugh, 1848-51, with Jackson Wallace, clerk, from 1850 to April, 1853; John Davis, Robert M. Yonker and David Ackerman, 1852, with B. L. Peters, clerk, in 1853-59; L. B. Rogers, John Davis and William Hough, in 1858; George Shaffer, David Ackerman and William Hough, in 1860, with John F. Clayton, clerk; Ackerman and Schaffer with F. Bealer, in 1861, and B. L. Peters, clerk; and Ackerman, Schaffer and L. B. Rogers, in 1862, with H. Campbell, clerk; Peter Freyman, J. C. Myers and George Schaffer, 1864, and John L. Rogers, with Messrs. Freyman and Myers in 1865-66 and 1867. The trustees who signed the tax levies from 1868 to 1879, are named as follows: William Hough and Peter Freyman, 1868; Fergus Hughes, H. Longbrake and Hugh Campbell, 1869; John Apple, C. R. Thomas and J. C. Myers, 1870-71, with W. C. Peters, clerk; Fergus Hughes, J. Buchanan and Jacob Ackerman, 1872; Henry Carrel and H. W. Sterling, 1873, with Abraham Hampshire, clerk; J. J. Faylor, in 1874; John Buchanan, John Marshall and J. C. Myers, 1875, with Dr. W. T. Thomas, clerk; Paul Hough and J. L. Rogers, 1877, with George J. Barr, clerk; Paul Hough, J. L. Rogers and John Marshall, 1878, with W. T. Thomas, clerk;. and J. L. Heminger, with Messrs. Rogers and Marshall, in 1879. In the matter of justices of the peace, Newell Bills qualified in 1838; Jazeb Bell in 1843; Henry Rasely in 1851, served until 1863; B. L. Peters, 1861 to 1892; Peter Freyman, 1861 to 1869; Israel Smith, 1869; John W. Ebersole, 1870; Henry Carrel, 1872-75; John J. Faylor, 1875 to 1884; James Porter, 1875; George Barnd, 1877; Frank Taylor, 1880; Josiah Noble, 1884; Lewis D. Arnold, 1886, to present time; Benton J. Leathers, 1892, and W. H. Caster, 1895. Newell Bills was clerk in 1841; L. F. Lambert was assessor in 1842; W. A. Lininger, in 1844; Silas Foster, in 1846; Jabez Bell, in 1848; Henry Rasely, in 1850; while in later years, H. P. Eaton and John Marshall were assessors. In 1896 the elections resulted as follows: For trustee, W. E. Deibley; clerk, J. M. De Long; assessor, N. North Baltimore precinct, Geo. Copus; S. North Baltimore precinct, Geo. D. Chase; and Hammansburg, Silas Tabor. Constable, David Helfrich and S. P. Beverlin. School trustees, H. Freyman, W. Ducat, G. Eiting, H. Voglesong, W. C. Peters, and John Haen. Pioneers.-Henry Shaw came from Virginia in 1829, and entered eighty acres in the south- WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 281 east corner of Section 30. He is said to have been the first settler of the township, and to have done the first clearing of any resident. Some clearing-about thirty acres-was done in Section 30, before the coming of Shaw, by a German, who came from the East and disappeared after a short stay. Besides clearing the thirty acres, the mysterious visitor " deadened " a large area of timber, and the tract has since been known, in the neighborhood as "The Dutchman's Deadening." Shaw moved to Indiana along in the "fifties," where he later served in the State Senate. His son. Henry, who was born in Henry township, has been twice a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. George Carrel, who was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., and who had been a resident for some time in Richland county, Ohio, entered 120 acres in Section 33, in 1832, and there he died in 1846. To Mr. and Mrs. Carrel nine children were born, only two of whom now survive Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Howard, of Findlay, and an ex-army officer and an ex-treasurer of Hancock county, and Henry Carrel, now of Hancock county, who was a commissioner of Wood county from 1875 to 1881. For many years Henry Carrel lived in Henry township. In 1884, having met reverses of fortune, he went to South Dakota, where he remained four years. In 1889 he returned to Ohio, and settled on a fine farm three miles from McComb. Lewis F. Lambert came to Wood county with the Carrels in 1832. At that time he was fifty years old, and had served sixteen years as a sailor in the Russian navy. In an engagement with a ship of France, a mast, in the top of which Lambert was at work, was cut down by a cannon ball with the result of precipitating the sailor violently to the deck of the vessel, and fracturing his skull so severely that he never fully recovered. Charles Grant, a native of Massachusetts, who had resided in Richland county for a time, became a settler in 1834, taking up forty acres in Section 34. He died in 1892, leaving two sons - Henry, a lumber dealer of North Baltimore, and Samuel, a farmer living near Alma. Adam and Daniel Crosser were also from Richland county, coming in 1834. Adam entered eighty acres in Section 35, and Daniel forty acres in Section 34. Adam went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1854, and Daniel died in Henry township in 1870, his widow following him in 1890. Nelson Copus and Reason Copus were from Richland county, coming in 1835. Nelson entered 120 acres in Section 36, and made his home there until 1866, when he removed to Tennessee. In 1830 he established a gristmill on the bank of Portage river (Rocky Ford branch), within the present limits of North Baltimore. In Tennessee, Mr. Copus established a mill on a larger scale, which he conducted until he was overtaken by financial reverses. In 1874, he returned to Wood county, and settled near Bradner, where he died, in 1876. Reason Copus entered eighty acres in Section 36, and died there in 1860. Amos Jones was a New Englander who took up eighty acres in Section 26, in 1835. He remained until 1840, when he removed to Michigan. Newell Bills was a resident of the township about fourteen years, and occupied forty acres in Section 35. He went to Nebraska in 1850. Tobias and Moses Shellenbarger came from Rich-, land county, in 1835, and entered land in Section 34. Many years ago they removed from Wood county, and are now living near Coldwater, Michigan. Jabez Bell, a native of New Jersey, settled in Henry township about 1836, taking up forty acres in Section 35. In 1849 his son was crushed under a falling tree one Sunday morning, while coon hunting, and soon after Mr. Bell died. His home was the principal stopping place for travelers. Being a joiner, he made coffins as well as doors, window-sash, looms, tables and bedsteads, dealt in tools, and, moreover, was the principal arbitrator in neighborhood misunderstandings. The family then moved to Richland county. James Howard was a Kentuckian, who settled on 160 acres in Section 26, in 1836. In 1853 he removed to Hancock county after the death of his wife. Richard Morgan came from Morgan county, Ohio, in 1836, and entered forty acres in Section 34. A few years later he joined the Mormons and went west. In the historic fight at Nauvoo, Ill., he was badly injured, and, when the Mormons were driven out of Illinois, he went with them, crossing the Mississippi river on the ice. Adam Rail was a New Yorker who came to the new township, in 1838, and entered eighty acres in Section 34. All further record of him is unobtainable. Henry McCauley was an almost direct arrival from Ireland in 1838. He entered eighty acres in Section 34, and remained there until 1848, when he removed to near Fostoria, where he died. He was the father of judge McCauley, of Tiffin, and of three daughters, all of whom were school teachers, and are now dead. Jonathan Wells was one of the early settlers, but there is no further record of him than that he entered 120 acres in Section 25, about 1838. Joshua Bartlett, the blacksmith, had a shop in the forest; WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 282 Joseph Gobel, who lived with Squire Bell, was, a noted sower of grain and breaker of oxen, while Travis, Scott, Purkey, Morrow, Deming, Roberts, and Caskey, were equally stanch pioneers of this township. Land Buyers.-The first purchasers of government land in Henry, who located their cabins in this county, are named as follows: Samuel McCrory, E. S. E. Sec. 1, Nov. 29, 1833. Thomas Calahan, S. E, 1/4 S. 4, Nov. 10, 1836. Benjamin S. Read, N. E. 1/4 S. 12, Oct. 28, 1833. Michael Longacre, W. S. E. 1/4 S. 14, May 13, 1839. David Ackerman, E. N. E. 1/4 S. 14, Oct. 12, 1836. Uriah M. Franks, W. S. E. 1/4 S. 23, March 24, 1834. Reuben Franks, E. S. W. 1/4 S. 23, March 24, 1834. Christopher Miller, E. S. E. 1/4 S. 23, Feb. 17, 1836. James Copus, E. S. E. 1/4 S. 25, Aug. 27, 1831. Wesley Copus, N. W. of S. E. 1/4 S. 25, June 14, 1834. William Wiley, E. N. E. 1/4 S. 27, Jan. 9,1834. Samuel Cross, W. N. W. 1/4 S. 31, Dec. 13, 1836. Stephen Arnold, S. W. S. E. 1/4 S. 31, ret. for tax in 1853. Elias Price, S. E. of N. E. 1/4 S. 32, Nov. 19, 1838. George Carrel, S. E. of S. E. S. 33, Sep. 21, 1832. Lewis S. Lambert, N. E. of S. W. 1/4 S. 34, April 26, 1833. Simeon Archer, W S. W. S. 35, May 2, 1833. Thomas Metcalf, E. N. E. W. S. 35, Aug. 23, 1833. Nelson Copus, N. E. N. W. 1/4 S.36, June 14, 1834. Henry and William Campbell, N. E 1/4 S. 24, Sep. 17,1834. Andrew Campbell, N. of S W. and N. of S. E. S. 24, Sep.17, '34. Hugh Campbell, N. W. 1/4 S. 24, Sep. 17, 1834. Henry Shaw, E. S. E. 1/4 S. 36, Feb. 21, 1831. Voters of 1839.-The thirty male inhabitants of the township, over twenty-one years of age, in 1839, are named as follows: Hiram Bigelow, Henry Beeson, Jabez Bell, Joshua Bartlett, Newell Bills, Daniel Crosser, John Crosser, Adam Crosser, George Carrel, Nelson Copus, John Gobel, Charles Grant, Lewis Jones, Levi Jones, John Kelley, Lewis Lambert, Samuel McCrory, David Morrow, Christopher Miller, R. C. Morgan, Edwin Musgrove, William Musgrove, Francis Oetny, David Ackerman, Jacob Auviter, Christopher Rail, Henry Shaw, Moses Shellenbarger, Tobias Shellenbarger, Richard B. Wall. The men named opened the forest to civilization, and must undoubtedly be credited with making the beginnings of this advanced division of the county. A number of these were present when the township was organized and, for years afterward, took an active interest in public affairs, as well as in the agricultural development of their township. First Things.-The first death was that of a child of George E. Carrel, in 1833. The first marriage in the township was that of Samuel Howard and Elizabeth Carrel, in 1836A The first frame house was erected by George Carrel on Section 35, in 1842. The first store was started by Samuel McCrory at Woodbury, in the extreme northeastern corner of the township, in 1837, and Mr. McCrory was the first postmaster and the first hotel keeper. The first physician was Dr. William Wiley, who came from Fairfield county in 1840, and settled in Section 26. He married a daughter of Jabez Bell, and moved to the vicinity of Lincoln, Neb., in 1850. The first gristmill was established in 1834, by John Beeson, on the bank of the Portage river (Rocky Ford), within the present limits of North Baltimore. It was at first run by horse power, but was later changed to a water-mill. Thomas Whitelock carried it on in later years until it was abandoned. John Beeson built a mill also on Ten-Mile creek, which he carried on until his removal to Wisconsin, where he died years ago. The first orchards planted were those of George Carrel, Charles Grant and Tobias and Moses Shellenbarger. These were planted in 1835, the stock coming from Jonathan Chapman, of Mansfield, known to fame as "Johnny Appleseed," who is said to have traveled a great deal over this country in the early days, in an engagement of starting orchards and sowing the seeds of medicinal plants for the benefit of posterity. The first road was one of the traces of the army of Gen. Hull. When the army entered what is now Henry township, it traveled on both sides of the Portage river, or Rocky Ford as it is called. Near the Bloom township line, the section of the army on the east bank crossed over and joined that on the west. A remarkable fact about the traces is that nothing will grow in them except coarse grass, until they are plowed. In the early history of the township the deer, wild turkey, raccoon, bear, muskrat, wolf and lynx were often to be encountered. B. L. Peters was the last to kill a lynx in Henry township. Schools.-A. T. Glaze, writing from Murray, Neb., to The Times, under date July 22, 1895, says: The first school in Henry township was taught in her own house, for one dollar a week, by "Aunt Charity" Kelly, wife of John Kelly, daughter of John Beeson. Let me say here, parenthetically, from which you may make local mention, if you desire, that "Aunt Charity" Kelly, one of the best of God's noble women, long one of the residents of Wood and Hancock counties, died of cancer at Okonee, Neb., on July 12, 1895, at the age of eighty-six years. Everybody in your locality, in the olden time, knew her as "Aunt Charity." She, with her husband, John Kelly, lived on what was the Jim Howard place, and there she taught school for one dollar a week, the first school in the township. The first school house was at the corner east of the above, and John Dye, of Van Buren, was the first teacher in it. Subsequently that school house was moved to near Thos. McClintock's, half a mile north, and the writer of these lines taught the first school in it at the new location. The school house, not far from the junction of Portage and Ten Mile, was built long after the above. Henry Carrel went to school, and taught in it and knows about it. Amos Roberts, Aaron Howard and Garner Whitelock were among the early teachers. In a paper on this subject, prepared by Mr. WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 283 Marron, and published in The Times, in 1895, it is said: Old residents disagree when and where the first school was held. B. L. Peters says Mark Thompson was the first teacher; that his temple of learning was in Section 26, and that the term began and ended in 136. Henry Carrel says the first school house was established in 1839, in the southwest corner of Section 24, on the John Davis land, now owned by the Standard Oil Company, and that the first teacher was John Dye, of Hancock county, who originally came from Virginia. One referred to the first school which was probably held in a private house, and the other to the first school. The first school consisted of about 25 or 26 pupils, and the compensation of the teacher was "ten dollars a month and board around." A valuable paper on the early schools of this township was found among documents in the auditor's office, in May, 1895. It is the school census of 1842. The enumeration made in October, 1842, by Newell Bills, then township clerk, gives the following names of pupils in the four school districts of that period: District No. I.-James, Samuel, Daniel, Lewis, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Lida -Ann McCrory; Sarah, Susannah, Almena and Rachel Roberts; John, William and Christian Freyman; Douglas, Martha and Lucy Bigelow; George and Elizabeth Lininger; George A. Longaker; Henry and Frederick Hannen; Jacob, Frances and Mary Aukerman, and Michael Anviter. Total, 21. District No. 2.-Amos and Hannah Jones; John, James and Mary McCauley; William, Henry and Josiah Boyer; John, Mary and Emily Miller; Mary and Lydia Ann Atteney; Betsey, Julia Ann and Daniel Musgrove; Abzada Morrow, and James, Charles and Cornelius Howard. Total, 19. District No. 3.-Robert, Jesse, Martha, Lucy and Anna Caskey; John, Jalson, Mary and Margaret Rayt. Total, 9. District No. 5.-Stephen, Albert N. and Sarah W. Bills; Orwell and Delight Morgan; Esther, Harriet, Catherine and Belinda Grant; Henry, Peter, George, Almira and Emiline, children of Tobias Shellenbarger; Christian, Mary and Catherine Crosser, children of Daniel; Joseph (son of John) Crosser; Samuel, Philip, Jacob, Mary, Sophia and Susan, children of Moses Shellenbarger; John, David, James, Tobias, Lydia, Amy, Margaret, Nancy and Elizabeth, children of Mary Lincicum; Henry and Isabel Carrell; Cynthia, John, Ann and Maria Dickerson; Lewis, Stephen, Marg't, Betsey, Hettie, Barbara, Cassia and Mary Jane Crosser, children of John Crosser; Daniel, Silas, Lewis, Delilah and Betsey, children of Adam Crosser; William, Jacob, Matthew, John, James D., Susannah, Christiana, Elizabeth, Margaret and Rebecca, children of Matthew Scott; Betsey and Melia, children of Thomas Whitelock; Jacob Copus, and Jabez Bell's children-Miranda, Phoebe and Jane Bell. Total, 65. Hunters.-A reference to the general history of the county will tell of the early hunters. ' Here a reference may be made to a hunt of 1843. One morning Lycurgus and Josiah Millbourn started for the windfall in the southern part of Liberty township, to hunt coon; there had been a slight fall of snow the night before. They soon struck a bear trail; the tracks showed that one old bear and three cubs had passed along the trail. The hunters determined to get more help before pursuing the game. They got a large white dog of Samuel McCrory, that was "game;" at Peter Freyman's they got two more dogs, five in all. Uncle Peter loaded up his double-barrel gun, and went along. Near where the Magill school house now stands, the dogs treed two of the cubs. When the hunters came up, the bears commenced to back down the tree; Josiah Millbourn now sent a bullet through the head of one of the bears; Lycurgus shot the other, breaking the jaw. A lively fight then took place, between the wounded bear and the five dogs, but another shot soon settled the cub. Upon following the trail of the old bear, they found that she had made a circle and had stood up, with her forepaws, on a log and witnessed the fight, but she soon took to flight. The cubs were the size of a large dog, and were fine meat. As has been stated, B. L. Peters killed the last lynx seen within the limits of Henry township. It was a great preserve for large game until the sawmill and railroad men appeared in the woods, and, even later, the hunter could find profitable employment until the oil men dashed impetuously through the township. Villages.-The villages of the township, outside North Baltimore, are Eberly, an oil town; Hammansburg, a sawmill and stave village; Denver, an oil town; Lawrence, a railroad station, about two miles north of North Baltimore; and the new hamlet called "Slabtown, " near the northern township line. Hammansburg was surveyed by W. H. Wood, for William Hammond and Jacob Ackerman, February 28, 1873. It became at once the seat of the stave manufacturing industry, and a factor in clearing the land of its thick covering of burr oak, elm, hickory, white-ash, sycamore and walnut. On April 14, 1885, Foster & Noble's stave works were burned, $15,000 worth of property destroyed, and forty persons left without employment. The Fulton well, which came in on December 8, 1886, caused a stampede to this part of the township, and introduced an era in which 284 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. the old lumber industry played but an insignificant part. In May, 1876, the post office of Woodbury was moved to Hammansburg. Denver was surveyed by David Donaldson for George D. Chase, in April, 1875, on the line of the B. & O. railroad, one mile west of North Baltimore. The latter village had the start, built no less than 102 dwellings in the two years preceding April, 1875, and continued, in the path of progress without recognizing the new town of Denver, which became less as the older town increased. The Denver well, drilled in 1889, won attention for the village, and it is said yielded $84 per diem to the owner of the town from its production. Eberly is an oil town with its main street lined, on each side, by frame cottages. In the oil belt, and at the same time, the center of a rich agricultural district, it is a busy hamlet. Slabtown is a modern place in point of time;' but very ancient in its conveniences, and in the.' manners, customs and habits of its residents. The oil development of 1895, and the establishment of the Burnett sawmill in the vicinity, must be credited with the existence of such a hamlet. Woodbury.-In May, 1876, Woodbury post office was discontinued. It was established in Bloom township, in 1835, with Samuel Heller in charge. He lived on the farm which S. Hamman owned in - 1876, while yet the office was called " Rocky Ford." A few years later, it was moved to McCrory's tavern, or Woodbury, where Gen. Thompson attempted to establish a town., Joseph Thompson was appointed postmaster, but he was succeeded by Samuel McCrory. In 1858, Joseph Madden succeeded McCrory, and the office was moved to the Madden cabin, one mile south of the tavern. Chauncey Gordon, named in the history of Bowling Green, was the mail carrier. For weeks the sack would be empty, so that on one occasion, McCrory mailed a chip, which proved a turning point in the fortunes of the office; for every mail afterward brought a letter. The Frame House at Woodbury was built by Gen. Thompson, as the first house on the town site, on the Liberty side. A log house for store purposes was built on the Henry side, in 1835 wherein Joseph Thompson kept store. Neither of the buildings are standing, fire having reduced them to ashes. A number of stories are told about the Frame House, not the least of which relates to its habitation by witches. It was at one time occupied by John Clever and his sister; at another time by equally notorious citizens until fire swept it away. It was reported that a peddler named Nimms was killed there, and that his spirit haunted the place. Churches.-The first religious impressions were made by the Mormon missionaries late inthe ''thirties," when one or more families embraced Joseph Smith's teachings and accompanied their teachers to Illinois. The Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized; in the winter of 1846-47, was the first church in the township. The first meeting was held at the house of James Howard, in Section 26, and the first members were Charles and Mrs. Grant, Thomas and Mrs. McClintock, James and Mrs. Howard, and some few others whose names can not now be recalled. There was no minister at that time, and the members would take turns in' preaching. Mount Harmon Society, of the Evangelical Association, in Henry township, was organized in June, 1883, the signers of the articles being H. W. Sterling, Fergus Hughes, Catherine Sterling, Elizabeth Sterling, Anton Sieber, D. S. Thrush and Barbara Siver. The United Brethren Church, southwest of Hammansburg, has, like that of the Methodist and Evangelical, a house of worship and a small membership. In the old villages of Hammansburg and Denver, classes of one church or another have been organized and disbanded, and re-organized and disbanded. " Secret societies, too, have grown up for a season and fallen to decay. In religious matters it is now difficult to tell where the Christian ends and the pagan begins; for, in this township, a large number of the inhabitants revel in adiaphorism. Oil and Gas.--Henry township, since 1886, has been chiefly noted' as an oil field, and to the discovery of gas and oil it owes its remarkable growth of the last decade. The first oil well was struck in 1886 on a lot now known as the Madden property, on Second street, in North Baltimore. The well, which was owned by a company of local men, was tubed June 10, 1886, and, though there was a fair flow of oil for a time, it did not prove as prolific as was expected. The first big well was the Fulton on the Fulton farm, three miles north of North Baltimore. The flowing commenced on December 8, 1886, and was estimated at seven hundred and twenty barrels a day. The Fulton proves the best paying well ever drilled in the township, and is still a good producer. In 1887 the Henning well, which flowed five hundred barrels a day at the start, was drilled, and was soon followed by the Fanny Peters well No. 1, on the Fanny Peters farm, WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 285 about one-quarter of a mile east of the Fulton well. The latter was good for two hundred barrels a day, and is still a fair producer. From this well was taken the first oil put into the tanks. Several hundred oil wells have been drilled since 1886, and some of them are prolific producers, which have enriched, and are enriching, many men who were poor ten years ago, and scarcely dreamed of the good fortune in store for them. The first gas well in Henry township was the Peters well, drilled by C. C. Conroy, on the Peters farm, within the limits of North Baltimore. Gas was struck in October, 1886, at a depth of 1,128 feet, and about twenty-one feet in the Trenton rock. Its flow was estimated at the start at 3, 590,000 cubic feet. Twenty-four gas wells have been drilled within the corporation in all, and all are owned by the village. In 1890 the original well was a good producer, while the newer wells gave promise of immense supplies of fuel. The Enterprise Window Glass Works, the Zihlman Flint Glass Works and the North Baltimore Bottle Works were suggested by the Conroy developments, and the enterprise of the townspeople did the rest. Indeed, it is questionable if that enterprise did not lead to the development of the oil reservoirs of the township; for in 1885 the capitalists of the village began to organize for work. NORTH BALTIMORE. The town of North Baltimore may be said to have been suggested by the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Though a gristmill was constructed within its present boundaries, as early as 1834, by Thomas Whitelock-though the pioneers of Secs. 26 and 35 appeared in the wilderness at that time, and notwithstanding the fact that such men as B. L. Peters, Levi Tarr, Jacob Dirk and George Franks had occupied the site for many years--nothing was done toward town-building until the iron way had been placed, and the whistle of the locomotive had reminded the land owners of their opportunity and of their duty. On April 25, 1874, the plat of the village of New Baltimore was recorded for B. L. Peters, the owner. On the day after, F. J. Frazier's survey of Tarr's addition was filed for record; then followed the plat of Jacob Dirk's addition and many others, until at one time it would appear as if the town builders would cover ' all Henry township with survey stakes and buildings, so great were their ambitions, and so thorough their faith in the location. The first enumeration for the United States Census, made in 1880, credited the village with 701 inhabitants; in 1890 the population was 2,857. The petition of eighty-one residents for the incorporation of North Baltimore was presented December 10, 1875, by H. P. Eaton and W. L. Yates. The commissioners granted the prayer of the petitioners on February 7, 1876. In 1887, a good deal of territory was annexed, and since that time many blocks have been surveyed and built upon. The mayors of the village since 1876 are named as follows: B. L. Peters, 1876 and 1880 to 1882; L. D. Arnold, 1878 to 1878, to 1880, and 1882 to 1884; H. H. Bordman, 1884 to 1886; Dr. William T. Thomas, 1886 to 1890, and 1894 to 1896; Frank P. Clark, 1890 to1892; H. L. Huddle, 1892 to 1894; and Dr. M. D. Reasoner, 1896. The clerks of the village from 1876 to 1896 are named in the following list: William T. Thomas, 1876; G. B. Smith, 1878; J. B. Wilson, 1880; T. W. Carr, 1882; J. W. Hughes, 1883; J. R. Turnpaugh, 1884; I. M. Justice, 1888; J. K. Willick, 1890-96. It is said that G. B. Smith filled the office of clerk between 1886 and 1888, but the ordinance book does not show the name at that time. The election of April, 1895, resulted in a tie vote for E. S. Anderson (R.) and G. W. Ewing (D.), each receiving 153. Lots were drawn to decide the election, when E. S. Anderson won, and he was re-elected in 1896. The election of councilmen, in 1895, resulted in the choice of J. H. Pote, who received 209 votes; S. P. Beverlin, 167; G. S. Chase, 181; and W. S. Decker, 108. All are Republicans. The highest Democratic vote cast was 107 for John Schatzel, and the highest Prohibition vote was 46 for W. P. Whitzel. The council of Centennial year comprised John Tarr, D. Dillinger, M. E. Pease, Solomon Zarbaugh, A. Barnd and N. B. Holdsworth. In 1896, D. J. Sloan, Henry Campbell, Hugh Campbell and William Rodgers were elected councilmen. The gas trustees, elected in 1895, were J. B. Dirk, G. W. Wilkinson and P. W. Connell, all Republicans. One Democrat, R. J. Hindall, was chosen as cemetery trustee, receiving 186 votes, against 158 cast for his Republican opponent. Paul Hough, the first treasurer, was succeeded by Mahlon Carr, he by Jeff. Richcreek, the treasurer in 1895, and he by J. W. Borough, elected in 1896. The marshals have been S. Zimmerman, George Mills; A. DeLong, W. H. Kratz (two terms), John W. Weaver, Charles Zorn, John 286 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. Coleman, Jacob H. Helfrich, William McCurdy, and Scott Reese, who was elected in 1896. In 1896, G. C. Dustin and Frank Helfrich were elected members of the school board. The principal acts of the council embrace the purchase of the Conroy, Duke & Myers gas plant, or, rather, their interests in the Peters lease, with its equipment, June 18, 1887, for $10,000, when Mayor Thomas and others urged the passage of a special act to enable the village to invest $12,000 in, gas works; the building of the City Hall in 1890, for $5,925; the pavement of Broadway and other streets in 1892-93; the construction of main sewers, authorized in August, 1892; and the construction of water works in 1890. The tax levy in June, 1894, was twelve mills. This included three mills for light, three and one-fourth for sinking-fund, and three for water. The paving and sewering of the town was carried out under the special assessment plan, on that very equitable basis which considered the benefits to the personal property owner as well as to the realestate owner. First Things.-The first newspaper, established in March, 1875, reached No. 27, of Vol. IV, before its removal to Bowling Green. It is referred to in the chapter on the Press, where the history of the modern newspapers of the village is given. The first brick house, in the village or township, was that erected by John Schatzel in 1874. The first hotel was conducted by William Witten, where now stands the Smith-Child buildings. The first grain elevator was built in 1874 by the B. & O. Co., and the beginnings of New Baltimore were made before the name was changed to North Baltimore. The railroads are referred to in the chapter on Highways, Railroads and Navigation. It may be stated here that the North Baltimore and Welker railroad was graded in 1893 by Hon. John J. Geghan, the object being to connect the C. H. & D. branch with the T. & O. C., and thus further the general interests of the town. A half mile of the road was made ready for the rails when the work was suspended. Schools.-In 1860, the first frame school building in this township was erected on the site .of the Dirk block, by B. L. Peters, contractor, at a cost of $550. The contractor was the first teacher.; In 1875 or 1876, that house gave way to a larger building, the construction of which angered many citizens who declared it too large and too expensive for the place. The first building was moved twice, and is now a dwelling house on Margaret avenue; the second is Shank & Sponsler's wagon shop. In 1885, the first of the three large public-school houses, of the present day, was erected. Two modern buildings have been added until the actual value of school property to-day exceeds $50,000. In April, 1895, the enrollment was 860. The first school board comprised George B. Smith, Thomas Witten, William Yates, George Barnd, L. D. Arnold and Jacob Katzenmeyer. In May, 1895, S. T. Reed, L. Wooster, Mrs. N. Schaffer, C. H. Stewart, L. D. Arnold and Miller, formed the board. Fire Department. -A volunteer fire company was organized in 1877, with B. L. Peters, foreman. The village provided buckets, truck and hook and ladder. In 1882 a hose cart, with 500 feet of hose and a hand engine, was purchased. With this pretentious equipment the "Rescue Hooks " reorganized with I. M. Justice, chief engineer. In 189o, two trucks were added and Buckeye Hose Co. organized. Howard L. Lenhart is chief, with I. N. Tarr, the successor of B. L. Peters, assistant chief; G. W. Wilkinson, foreman of the hose company, and A. C. Baldwin, of the hook and ladder company. The two companies are quartered in the City Building. The Village of 1874.-New Baltimore of October, 1874, was something above a hamlet and something below a small railroad town. The business houses were B. L. Peters' dry-goods store; E. W. Poe & Co's store; Henry & Tarr's drug store; Porter & Berger's hardware; John Schatzel's shoe store; Silas Grove's grocery store; Tarr & Weaver's blacksmith shop; L. D. Arnold's harness shop; Wm. Witten's boarding house; and Samuel Harry's hotel, with Dr. Eaton's gristmill, then building. The Post Office was opened in August, 1874, with Lincoln P. Hudson, master, in E. W. Poe's store. Some short time after the daily East and West mail was established over the Baltimore & Ohio system, so that in more ways than one may the beginnings of this busy town be credited to its railroad advantages. The successors of Hudson in the office were Samuel M. Bower, Washington Young, John Cramer, Dr. H. P. Eaton (appointed in September, 1885, resigned in 1889), and Dr. W. T. Thomas. The present master, Capt. A. W. Adams, was commissioned at the beginning of President Cleveland's second administration. The, office has 451 call and 250 lock boxes. In 1894 there were 2,450 money orders and 1,015 postal notes issued, the sale of stamps amounted to about $4, 200 and the total revenue to about $4,800. Banks.-The People's Bank was organized in 1888, when M. B. Waldo was cashier. As the WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 287 People's Banking Co., Lloyd Weisel was president; B. A. Larence, vice-president; and M. B. Waldo, cashier, and they, with F. P. Clark, Jacob Katzenrneyer, Jeremiah Foltz, G. W. Needles, J. E. Wilkison and S. W. Nigh, were directors. The firm retired from business in1894, leaving the National Bank in possession of the field. The First National Bank was organized June 13, 1890, with S. E. Niece, president; Jeff Richcreek, vice-president; L. Wooster, cashier; D. E. Peters, assistant cashier; and the president, vice-president, A. Emerine, B. L. Peters, Hugh Campbell, J. R. Rogers, and Andrew Schick, directors. The stockholders included the above named, with H. D. Stouffer, G. D. Chase, I. W. Richardson, W. F. Fry, S. B. Albertson, E. C. Showman, L. S. Lyon, John C. Peters, F. Taylor, Michael Arverter, R. Crocker, Joseph Madden, Jacob Dirk and A. L. Pfau. On October 1 business was commenced in the Richcreek Block, pending the completion of their bank building. The only change made in officials was in January, 1892, when A. Emerine succeeded Mr. Niece as president. The bank building was erected in 1890-I, at a cost of $16,000. The Henry Opera House was built in 1888, for Dr. A. G. Henry. The fire of March 1, 1894, destroyed that building, entailing a loss of $25,000. Undaunted, the owner caused the debris to be cleared away, plans to be made and building to be inaugurated, and before the close of the year a house, capable of seating 1,000 persons, heated by steam, lighted by electricity, and well arranged in every particular, was opened to the public. This theatre forms a part of the Henry Block, a three-story brick building, with stone trimmings. From 1873 to 1894 Dr. Henry conducted a large drug business here. The North Baltimore Electric Light Co. is another creation of this enterprising physician. The plant was constructed in 1890-91 for Dr, Henry, and now furnishes about 100 arc and 1,500 incandescent lights. The North Baltimore Gas and Oil Co.-On August 13, 1885, the North Baltimoreans had subscribed $600 toward drilling a well for gas to a depth of 1,000 feet. Aaron Barnd, Jefferson Richcreek, G. G. Rockwell. A. J. Harmon, M. M. Carr, L. D. Arnold and George Franks being the fisrt on the list. On November 12, the Beacon appealed to the pe0ple to subscribe funds, promising them, if gas were found, a period of great progress. By November 26, the names of B. L. Peters, A. G. Henry, B. A. Lawrence, Isaac Taylor, W. O. Lawrence, G. G. Rockwell, Doherty & Kile, S. M. Bower, D. Dillinger, M. M. Carr, A. J. Harmon, George Franks, John Dirk, A. B. Smith, and Aaron Barnd were affixed to a subscription paper for $1 00 each. H. L. Huddle, Jacob Dirk, C. J. Bushong, J. A. Hough, J. Katzenmeyer, John Cramer, John A. Sutton, James A. Gibson and Jeff. Richcreek were added, and the North Baltimore Gas and Oil Co. was organized, early in 1886, with Aaron Barnd, president; Dr. A. G. Henry, vice president; John A. Sutton, secretary; John Cramer, treasurer, and Jeff. Richcreek, manager. The work of drilling commenced March 18, 1886. On. April 22, the drill opened a gas vein at 600 feet; on the 29th the reservoir was tapped, but on June 29 the well showed twenty barrels of oil as well as gas. This was on Lot 88, original town of North Baltimore. It was plugged, and has remained so. Great Industries.-The pioneer manufacturing industry was Whitelock's gristmill which stood on the bank of Rocky of 1834, Ford. It was operated 'by horse-power until a dam was built and a water-wheel introduced, and continued for many years the only industry of the kind in that neighborhood. The North Baltimore Roller Mills were built by Dr. Eaton, in 1874, with a capacity of 100 barrels a day. In 1880, G. G. Rockwell purchased the mills, changed the buhrs for a complete set of Barnard & ,Lee's machinery, and made it a modern milling concern. The development of the gas field brought hither new industries, such as the Zihlmann Glass Co., employing 200 hands and producing 1,000 drinking glasses or tumblers a day (it was partly destroyed by fire December 15, 1895); the Bartelle Furniture Co., with their great buildings and kilns, their large force of workmen and local stockholders, such as Aaron Barnd, L. Weisel, R. Shoemaker and T. J. Adams; the Hardy Machine Co., of which D. M. Murphy is president, James Hardy, secretary, and Dennis O'Brien, treasurer, with their immense plant and large force of skilled mechanics; the Central Pressed Brick Co., who employ eighty-five men, and produce 8,000,000 bricks annually; the Bottle Glass Co., employing 125 men, and producing carloads of bottles, fruit jars and carboys; and a number of smaller concerns have been established here since 1887. The presence of gas and oil for fuel, and remarkable railroad facilities, were the magnets which attracted them. The scarcity of gas and the high price of oil threatened these industries early in 1895, and drove the manufacturers to consider the possibility of having to seek other fuels. With the prospects 288 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. of ascetylene, electricity and extensions of the gas and oil fields, presented later in the year, they learned that the tricky gas field was not their sole hope. Fires.-The first fire in the town occurred in 1875 when the drug store of Henry & Tarr and the dwelling house of Mr. Bachtel, both located on south Main street, were entirely consumed. The fire of January 21, 1885, originated in Dr, Henry's drug store, which it destroyed, with Dilinger & Fielding's market, C. M. Justice's tobacco store, and other property. On February 23, the grocery store of Randal Hale, and the shoe shop of John Tice, were destroyed, while, on the 25th, the school building at Denver was burned. Following these, the dwellings of John Caskey, one and one-half miles west, and of Samuel Harry and George Presler, were destroyed. In November, 1886, the Hale Building, and in December, 1886, Dr. Henry's residence, were burned. The fire of March 24, 1888, destroyed property valued at $26,000, including Dr. Henry's opera hall and furniture, $5, 500; G. F. Brenner's dry-goods stock, $3,000; Richcreek's loss, $i,000; Luckey & Ward's damage, $500; Knoke & Dirk's, $300; S. M. Bower's, $200; Charles Pifher's, $2,000; W. I. Chalfant's, $2,000; F. P. Clarke's, $7,500; W. J. Hutton's, $1, 500, and Dr. Reddin's, $2,500. In April, 1888, the work of rebuilding the burned district was inaugurated by James A. Gibson, D. Dillinger, Nigh Brothers, Chalfant, Hutton, Clarke and the B. & O. Railroad Co. ; so that before the close of the year a number of modern houses were given to the town. The fire of October 30, 1891, swept away 35 buildings, on Main street, between the railroad and Broadway, in the heart of the town, doing for it comparatively what the fire of October, 1871, did for Chicago-wiping out old buildings (erected at a cost of $51,000), and making way, within one year, for twenty-seven buildings (which cost $129,000) on Main street, as well as for many residences on other streets. The large buildings, erected prior to October 30, 1892, and the cost of each are named as follows: J. A. Gibson, $8,000; A. Emerine, $7,000; A. St. Amant, $4,000; G. W. Franks, $4,000; D. E. Childs, $4,000; Mrs. H. L. Smith, $8,000; J. Katzenmeyer, $4,000; M. B. Waldo, $4,000; George Pitcher, $4,000; Joseph Magrum, $2,500; L. D. Arnold, $2,500; S. W. Nigh, $2,500; F. Snyder, $2 500; S T Reed $3000; John Louden, ------ Presbyterian Church, $5,000; Mrs. Grosser, N. Bedell, $1,000; Horace Bechtel, $2,000; John Bartz, $2,000; George Shannon, $1,000; Daniel Dillinger, $7,000; McClaran heirs, $6,000; F. P Clarke, $5,000; Hotel Columbia, $15,000; People's.Bank, $17,000, and Charles Pifher, $8,000. The fire of December 15, 1895, resulting from an explosion of a gas meter in the Zihlmann Glass works, destroyed property valued at $25,000, and caused the death of Andrew Beary, one of the expert workmen. The Board of Trade was organized in the fall of 1892 with the following named directors: D. E. Peters, A. L. Pfau, G W. Ewing, James Loe, M. I. Sponsler, Aaron Barnd, W. D. Richardson, Dr. A. G. Henry, C. P. Jones, H. D. Stouffer and Jeff Richcreek. Among the unofficial members were Dr. Eaton, Samuel Hamman, J. M. Beckett, D. J. Sloan, Geo. W. Wilkinson, McPherson & Co., Hugh Campbell, U. A. Long, Henry Pressler, Spitler Bros., A. N. Kaley, J. F. Kile, H. Netzorg, Frank Taylor, Exline & Connell, H. L. Huddle, J. H. Chapman, G. G. Rockwell, Dr. E. E. Fuller, B. A. Lawrence, John Shatzel, J. E. Shatzel, M. B. Waldo, J. H. Helfrich, S. P. Harrison, J. W. Bushong, J. C. Knoke, D. E. Peters, P. W. Connell, C. M. Justice, Samuel Knight, W. M. Northrup, E. R. Dean, H. J. Everett, J. P. Rampe, W. H. Hough, W. J. Christie, Daniel Dillinger, Dr. C. P. Jones, L. D. Langmade, B. J. Hughes, A. W. Adams, M. E. Dirk, I. W. Richardson„ S. W. Nigh, A. F. Swineheart, I. M. Justice, Bedall & Wiley, W. R. Martin, Peter Gobel, Charles Leathers, G. B. Smith, John Cramer, Frank Snyder, L. W. DeLong and Martin Matturn. Levi Wooster was elected president; J. J. Geghan, secretary; and Frank Clark, treasurer. CHURCHES. The Church of Christ may be said to have been organized in the " fifties," but it was not legally organized until November 1, 1875, when David H. Randall and Alvah Edgecomb were elected elders; John B. Zarbaugh and Jacob Priest, deacons, and D. Dillinger, A. G. Henry and John B. Zarbaugh, trustees. Dr. Eaton and others contributed funds. A house was built between Main and Tarr streets, south of the B. & O. track, near the old south cemetery. After two or three years, the Presbyterians purchased the house, and the Disciples ended. The United Brethren Church was the first religious organization in North Baltimore. In January, 1861, a little band of men and women gathered and organized a church society, its first members being B. L. Peters and wife, William WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 289 Witten and wife, Mrs. Hutton, Mary Ausenburg and Mrs. Heminger. The Sabbath-school was organized June 17, 1862, and B. L. Peters was the first superintendent. The first regular sermon was preached by Rev. George French, in the school house in 1862. The society gradually grew in numbers, and in 1875 the present house of worship was erected on West Broadway, since which time it has been remodled and improved. This church building was the first one erected in North Baltimore. It was dedicated by Bishop Weaver, November 8, 1874. At that time the membership was less than thirty, while now it is over two hundred, and the enrollment of scholars is 200, with an average attendance of 150. Rev. Joseph Beaver was the first pastor, remaining in charge three years. The present pastor, Rev. Jacob Swinehart, has been here during the past three years. The property is valued at $4,000. The Presbyterian Church.- This society was organized in 1876, and its first members were Samuel Bowman, D. M. Wilson, Bechtel, E. F. Rogers, Dr. McClaran, and their wives, and John Holiday. On November 5, 1876, articles of incorporation were filed by Messrs. Wilson, Davis and McClaran, trustees. The following year the society purchased the Disciples building, which stood near the old Bell cemetery on South street. Rev. P. C. Baldwin organized the society, and was its pastor for several years. In the spring of 1892, the church building was moved from South street to its present location on Tarr street, and was remodeled. The society owns a parsonage, and the property is valued at about $9,000. The membership is about 140, and the enrollment of S. S. scholars, 200, with an average attendance of 120. J. W. Bushong was the S. S. superintendent, and Rev. L. L. Alspach was the pastor in 1895. The Methodist Episcopal Church.- In February, 1878, this society was organized by Rev. Joshua M. Longfellow, its members being Michael Hill, Susan Tice, Samuel Smith, Eliza J. Smith, S. L. Edgar, Catherine Edgar, Samuel Shaffner, Mrs. S. Shaffner, 'Catherine Groves, Mary Thompson and Sarah Shiner. Rev. S. D. Shaffner was the first pastor. Services were held in the U. B. church until the society built a frame house on Water street -which is now used as the G. A. R. hall-in 1881-82, costing $2.000. Rev. S. G. Reeder was then pastor. In 1888 a brick edifice was commenced on the corner of Second and Water streets, which was completed in 1891, and dedicated July 12, that year, Rev. A. A. Thomas being pastor. , The parsonage was built at the same time the church was. The present value of the church property is $11,000. Rev. D. Bower is the pastor. The membership at the close of 1894 was 325. Free Methodist Church.-In April, 1890, the Free Methodists organized their society with sixteen members, with Rev. S. K. Wheatly as the first pastor. Meetings were held for a year or more in Dillinger's hall and other places; then in 1891 a church building was erected on Beecher street, and was finished and dedicated September 2, of that same year, by Rev. E. P. Hart, of Alameda, Cal. The church property is valued at $ 1,000. The present pastor is Rev. J. E. Williams. The membership is nearly thirty, and the school attendance averages fifty scholars. St. Augustine's Catholic Congregation assembled in the City Building for worship, August 2, 1891, subsequently services were held in the Opera House until a house of worship was completed in December, 1892. It was dedicated in June, 1893, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstman, of Cleveland. Father Kress, of Bowling Green, who was instrumental in building the church, remained in charge of the parish until January I, 1893, when Father I. J. Wonderly was appointed. He has liquidated a debt of $500 on the building, besides furnishing the parsonage. The church is located on the corner of Second and Oak streets, and is valued at $4,000. There are forty families belonging to St. Augustine's congregation. The First Baptist Church.-On July 5, 1893, a class was formed with seven members: D. R. McGregor and wife, I. DeVaughn and two daughters, Matilda Reese and Maggie Small. The first meetings were held at the homes of the different class members. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Herbert Agate. On January 7, 1894, Rev. Dr. Leonard, of Norwalk, Ohio, organized the First Baptist Church Society, and he preached the first regular sermon, and since that time services have been held at the G. A. R. hall, by Rev. Leonard. The society has now sixteen members, and the school fifty-two scholars. SOCIETIES. The North Baltimore Agricultural Association leased twenty-five acres from George Franks in August, 1887, for fair and racetrack purposes. To this association may also be credited the street fair, which has become an annual meeting of some importance, much on the principle of European fairs. The fourth fair was held in August, 1895, the managers then being Charles Pifher, C. L. Huddle, B. B. Rockwell, F. P. 290 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. Clark and H. A. Konetzka. Mr. Rockwell was president, with E. H. Westenhaver, secretary, and F. P. Clark, treasurer. The horse and cattle exhibit was dispensed with in 1895, but many new attractions were introduced. The I. O. O. F., Rocky Ford Lodge, No. 647, was the first secret society organized in North Baltimore or Henry township. It was instituted in July, 1870, and on March 29, 1879, was consolidated with Hayward lodge, of Van Buren. The lodge is called Hayward now; its number is 333, and it has seventy-six members. The charter members were: Allen Dorsey, Daniel Frick, John Haen, Lloyd Weisel, Edward Zarbaugh, William Campbell, Henry Campbell, E. W. Poe, J. W. Tarr, F. Goldner, L. D. Arnold, Jeff Richcreek, J. C. Shaffer, J. Salsbury, J. W. Bushong, Jacob Light, Michael Henning, Reuben Shoemaker, E. F. Rogers, G. W. Trout, Joseph Magrum, J. W. Coleman, T. C. Poe. The first noble grand was Jeff Richcreek, and the first permanent secretary, James Porter. In 1895 F. H. Braymer was noble grand. Marius Encampment, No. 196, was instituted August 6, 1875. For a while it was broken up, but the charter was restored August 24, 1890, to Jeff Richcreek, E. F. Rogers, James C. Shaffer, J. W. Hughes, A. Shick, C. H. Ross, Frank Noble, S. B. Albertson, H. F. Neumann, James Dildine, W. S. Dildine, Samuel Seymour, J. W. Sharp, W. H. Kratz, O. E. Osborn, Charles Pifher, J. W. Coleman, John F. Kile, H. C. Grant, William E. Diebley and S. E. Niece. In 1895 M. E. Dirk was chief patriarch and W. M. McCoy, scribe. The Daughters of Rebekah.-Oren Lodge, No. 380, was organized October 10, 1893. The charter members were: W. S. Dildine, Ann Dildine, Oren E. Osborn, Mollie J. Osborn, Henry Campbell, Rhody Campbell, John Apple, Margaret Apple, Belle Wagner, Frank Noble, Lottie Shuler and Sarah E. Harrison}. In 1895 Mrs. Mollie Osborn was noble grand. North Baltimore Lodge, F. & A. H., No. 561, was instituted in December, 1890, and chartered October 30, 1891. There are now forty-two members. B. J. Hughes was the first master, John F. Kile, the first senior warden, and Duncan J. Sloan, Jr., the first junior warden. The charter members were: W. D. Dougherty, John F. Kile, D. J. Sloan, H. G. Tussing, T. H. Johnson, Grant G. Huddle, J. H. Pote, T. H. Carter, Barrett J. Hughes, J. M. Elliott, Thomas Smith, T. W. Carr, S. M. Bower and M. B. Waldo. In 1895 I. W. Richardson, Jr., was master, with J. H. Pote, secretary. The Woodmen of the World.-Columbia Camp, No. 17, was organized December 5, 1893. The charter members were E. L. Adams, D. C. Bricker, John Birk, L. U. Colwell, Leonard Fromer, C. L. Huddle, Ralph Henning, Fred Moeck, J. F. Nass, Jacob Plocher, Frank W. Rose, John Sisa, W. C. Schever, W. T. Thomas, Jacob Tome, Ernest Vorback, A. A. Wrede and W. J. White. In 1895 John Naas presided, with. L. J. Bacome, secretary. Baltimore Tent, No. 84, K. O. T. M., was organized June 10, 1890, with the following named officers in tent rank: H. J. Everitt, A. A. Thomas, H. Jacobson, William Wilson, J. Albans, C. W. Mann, V. Gray, A. G. Henry, J. W. Cushing, F. W. Flint, G. L. Monroe, S. Swartz and B. Netzorg. E. M. Pardee was commander in 1895. North Baltimore Hive, No. 51, L. O. T. M., was instituted November 22, 1894, with Caroline B. Young, Lou W. Fowler, Eliza Christie, Lillian A. Cove, Mary A. McGregor, Susan Eliza Whitzel, Sarah Womer, Ada A. Dittman, Margaret Anderson and Eliza J. Ferguson officers in order of Hive rank. Mrs. Adelle Trautman presided in 1895, with Sarah Womer recordkeeper. The Knights of Pythias, a strong organization, though young in years, was presided over in 1895 by J. S. Platte, with Dr. M. B. Reasoner keeper of records and seals. Sill Post, G. A. R., No. 57 was organized April 18, 1881, and named in honor of Joshua W. Sill, who commanded a brigade in Sheridan's division at Stone River, where he was killed December 31, 1862. The original members were E. W. Poe, Reuben Shoemaker, Harrison Downs, J. H. Monasmith, T. J. Campbell, John Heminger, Ira Grimes, George Chase, L. J. Bloom, George Colwell, Martin Lauck, J. S. Lauck, Washington Young, and Samuel Dissinger. E. W. Poe was the first commander, followed in 1882, by T, J. Campbell; 1883, J. A. Heminger; 1884 and 1892, Washington Young; 1885, J. B. Zarbaugh; 1886-87, W. S. Decker; 1888-89, J. W. Bender; 1890, Harrison Downs; 1893, John Baldwin; 1894, W. S. Decker; 1895, J. W. Bender and 1896, P. P. Shuler. The adjutants have been, Rueben Shoemaker, 1881; J. B. Zarbaugh, 1882 to 1884; Washington Young, 1885; J. B. Zarbaugh, 1886-87; D. A. Wilson, 1888; J. E. Hesse, 1889; W. S . Decker, 1891; J. W. Bender, 1892; W. S. Decker, 1895; and J. W. Bender, 1896. The number of members is twentyfive, of forty on the muster roll. The Woman's Relief Corps, Sill Corps, No. WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. - 291, 264, was instituted March 19, 1889. The first president was Mary E. Morgan; the first senior vice, Hannah Decker; and the first junior vice, Mary N. Heminger. The charter members were: Mary E. Morgan, Hannah Decker, Mary Ann Heminger, Nellie Simons, Mary Weaver, Carrie Weaver, Effie Decker, Elmira Bender, Julia Gibson, Sarah Downs, Phoebe Heminger, Wilda Arnold, Sarah Acker, Anna Dildine, Erwilda Taylor, Rachael A. Young, Mary Coleman, Mary G. Shade and Opal Baldwin. Mrs. Rebecca Somers presided in 1895, with Carrie Simon, secretary, while, in 1896, Sola Huber presided, with Phila Parker, secretary. The Sons of Veterans, John Reed Porter Camp, No. 281, was organized June 21, 1888. In 1895, John B. Wilson was captain, and P. M. Bender, orderly sergeant. The Union Veterans' Union, General Day Command, No. 54, was instituted in November, 1892. Thomas McKay was the first colonel, and John A. Smith the first lieutenant colonel. The charter members are J. A. Smith, Sidney Lynn, John Dow, J. D. Burrell, John E. Mock, Charles Lano, W. N. Johnson, R. Shoemaker, J. H. Black, W. H. Harter, F. S. Probst, Ezekiel Steele, James E. Hess, Thomas McKay, John Ha-en, William M. Maxwell and Jesse O'Hare. Col. J. D. Burrell was commander in 1895, with J. E. Mock, quartermaster. The Woman's Veteran Relief Union, Mrs. Emma L. McKinney Post, No. 26, was instituted May 7, 1894, with the following charter members: Nora McKay, Julia Harter, Mary Lano, S. A. Smith, Fannie Smith, Sarah Fouts, Nellie Adams, Lorinda McNamara, Amanda Steele, Kate Harter, Mary A. Shoemaker, Jennie Powers, Jennie Riser, Lelia Freece, Higgins, Emma McFall, Mattie McFall, Mary Chase, Nancy Steele and Eliza E. Wilson. In 1895, Mrs. Nora McKay was president, Mrs. Saloam Smith, secretary, and Mrs. Fannie Smith, treasurer. Timoleon Temple, Rathbone Sisters, was presided over, in 1895. by Mrs. Elizabeth Reasoner, with Mrs. Phila Platte, recorder. The Equitable Aid Union, of which G. B. Sawdy was chancellor, and Mrs. L. L. Burton, secretary, in 1895, is a beneficial organization with a fair membership. The Patriotic Order Sons of America, Washington Camp, No. 76, was instituted June 22, 1893. The charter members were George B. Smith, L. Mosely, J. Durham, John Justice, A. C. Tussing, F. M. Justice, Curtis Baker, E. A. Wolfe, Charles Himler, Edward Watterick, O. P. Kimball, John M. Durham, Ed. Harter, John Baker, Frank Smila, George Dissinger, E. Misamore, C. F. Wiley, H. G. Craun, Edward Nigh, Reuben Nigh, William Campbell, O. J. Corry, Jerry Kniseley, S. Chaney and George Riser. The president, in 1895, was L. Mosely, with A. A. Edwards, secretary. The Jr. O. U. A. IV., North Baltimore Council, No. 301, was organized August 6, 1892. It has about fifty members now. The charter members were Frank Rudy, Jesse Baker, C. W. Buffington, G. W. Connell, William Credicott, C. A. Suttles, C. F. Wiley, J. H. Tilton, Clois Spitler, Frank S. Jones, J. E. Connell, George H. Males, William Lyon, G. W. Shadle and J. H. Jones. W. H. Sheller was councillor in 1895, with Isaac Moorhead, secretary. The Painters and Decorators' Union, No. 188, was organized in September, 1890, with A. W. Orians, A. C. Tussing, W. M. Henning, T. D. Grant and C. M. Rumer, officials. The Bryant Guards, or Company K, O. N. G., was mustered into the Second Regiment, August 5, 1895, to take the place of the Celina Company, just then disbanded. The officers are W. J. White, captain; Robert Jones, first lieutenant; E. B. Drake, second lieutenant; S. Wilson, first sergeant; Frank Wilson, second sergeant; Alex. Sloan, third sergeant, and Rudolph Lamfrom, fourth sergeant. Frederick Yeager and Ezra Wolf were appointed corporals. The company went into camp, with the Second Regiment, at Tiffin, in August, 1895, and at once made a favorable impression. CONCLUSION. The beginnings of the village are described in the history of Henry township, where mention is made of its pioneers and their institutions. The building of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, in 1874, introduced a new era in the southern townships of Wood county, and this town is a child of that era. North Baltimore has no poetic features. Great stores and great industries take the place of Fancy's castles. It is a creation of commercial enterprise. Business and residence streets; business blocks in stone and brick; modern residences in brick and wood; commercial institutions; churches and schools-have all grown up within a quarter of a century, exemplifying what courage, linked with bold business policy, may accomplish. The modern town is scarcely a decade 292 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. old, but it is as precocious as it is young. Like other ambitious towns, it had its ups and downs, its fires, its periods of trade and financial depression and common disappointments, but it rose above all obstacles, and is to-day a progressive place. RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE